Shirakawa trial postponed more than 4 months

After all the legal infighting over the trial schedule is said and done, George Shirakawa Jr.‘s second corruption trial won’t start until Feb. 23.

The principal reason?

Bicka Barlow, one his defense attorneys, has an undisclosed medical condition that prevents her from being ready any time soon. (The judge sealed the medical explanation, presumably to protect her privacy).

Since she’s the DNA expert in a case that relies heavily on DNA found on a stamp of a nasty campaign mailer, the trial can’t start without her.

Throw in some other hinderances — co-counsel Jay Rorty has to try a case in Santa Cruz County and also has a long-planned European vacation coming up — and suddenly you’re four-plus months down the line from the October start date.

Which was months down the line from the original start date of April Fool’s Day (not kidding).

Prosecutor John Chase this week was fairly blase about it, compared to the war of words that ensued at the beginning of this continuance battle.

“Before, I was upset because there was no apparent reason (for the delay),” he said, adding illness is a ”fact of life” that could befall anyone.